NCSS Ethics Reflection

What?

The National Center of Social Studies Statement of Professional Ethics includes six attributes that describe how social studies teachers should present information in the classroom. Teachers should practice integrity, justice, authenticity, civic engagement, responsibility, and democratic values in the classroom. Integrity and authenticity are closely related to each other. To have integrity involves being authentic, accountable, fair, and respectful of the information taught and ensuring it is truthful and legitimate. Authenticity involves genuine, unbiased, and open communication. Teachers must strive to deliver social studies facts and not opinions. They must also be willing to discuss and explore ideas to get to the truth and admit when they are wrong.

Justice and responsibility are related since they both involve being fair and accountable. Justice also includes accepting, analytical, and advocating for an effective society. Justice is the process of defending right and wrong, which gives us the building blocks of our society. Responsibility includes commitment and being prepared as well. Teachers must share the truth with students and be liable for the information they present. It is their responsibility to ensure the information is accurate. Civic engagement and democratic values are related since they are both inclusive and require participation in society. They both include modeling how to be informed and productive citizens in our society for students. Civic engagement requires an individual to be involved in and communicate with the community, nation, and world. It involves shared power that happens through democracy and checks and balances. As citizens, we are responsible for upholding our end by contributing positively to the public good and enacting our rights as citizens. Democratic values include accepting diverse opinions and cultures and being aware of the state of our community, country, and world. We have rights that we must enact, and we cannot do this without exploring multiple perspectives and being aware of what is happening around us. It also requires us to be culturally relevant and responsive as teachers and citizens.

So What?

All future educators must know and apply social studies professional ethics when conducting lessons. These attributes remind teachers how to present historical material and the atmosphere they should create when discussing history. Educators must also remember that social studies is not an isolated subject. This subject stretches across all content areas. It is impossible to do math, science, ELA, and more subjects without discussing history at some point. Teachers must ensure that when presenting material for other subjects, they hold to these ethics since social studies can enter the conversation at any moment. These ethics also help teachers understand the environment they should create when discussing content since social studies can be dark and cruel sometimes. Teachers must ensure that the information they teach students is truthful and accurate. Students must also feel free and welcome to discuss opinions and questions freely and respectfully with one another and their teacher. If teachers keep these principles in mind, they can create a safe, supportive, and equitable environment.

Now What?

As a future educator, I will keep these principles near my desk when I plan lessons. Social studies can sneak into a lesson at any moment, and I must be able to present the material genuinely. I will ensure that I know the whole story and prepare for questions students may have about the event and how we can answer the questions together. I will teach the material with integrity and authenticity by checking my resources and ensuring I know the truth about an event. I will abandon my bias to ensure that students receive an objective lesson that does not influence their beliefs. I will take responsibility for the material I teach and make sure all my students succeed and feel valued. I will create an environment where students can see and practice civic engagement and democratic values. Students will learn how to be an active citizen in our society. I will teach students what justice is and how to carry it out in our lives and futures. These are the principles I will apply to my teaching.

Resources:

O’Neil, Kim, et al. “NCSS Statement of Professional Ethics.” Social Studies, National Council For Social Studies, 30 Nov. 2022, www.socialstudies.org/position-statements/ncss-statement-professional-ethics#:~:text=Social%20studies%20professionals%20should%20act,content%2C%20and%20the%20community%20overall.